Pope Francis today appointed a group of cardinals to advise him on Church government and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus', the Vatican announced today.

Vatican City, 13 April 2013 (VIS) – Following is the full text of a communique issued today by the Secretariat of State.

“The Holy Father Francis, taking up a suggestion that emerged during the General Congregations preceding the Conclave, has established a group of cardinals to advise him in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus'.

The group consists of:

Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State;

Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in the role of coordinator; and

Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy, in the role of secretary.

The group's first meeting has been scheduled for 1-3 October 2013. His Holiness is, however, currently in contact with the aforementioned cardinals.”

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said that the group shows that the Pope wishes to implement the suggestions made by the College of Cardinals in preparation for the Conclave. He stressed it is not a council, board or commission to take decisions but rather will act as a consultative body. He also pointed out that the eight cardinals represent all five continents.